Hanukkah
BRINGING LIGHT TO DARKNESS
The common version of the story of Hanukkah is well worth telling. In 167 B.C.E. King Antiochus Epiphanes forced Hellenization on all his subjects.
Jewish rituals were outlawed, and the worship of Greek gods replaced them in the Temple. Many resisted Hellenism and died as martyrs, though many also were forced into compliance, giving rise to the story that follows, and the rebellion which gave birth to one of the most famous legends.
The rebellion began in the village of Modi'in in central Israel. Here they forced local Jews to sacrifice a pig at the altar in order for them to show obedience to the new decree - a political move more than religious. Mattathias, an old priest, refused to obey and, together with his five sons, began a rebellion. The war that followed was not one of fixed battles, but a war of attrition, ambush, and guerrilla tactics, and after the old priest Mattathias died, his son Judah took over the leadership of the rebellion, and eventually succeeded in defeating the Greeks. This great triumph of the very few against the many was the first miracle.
Finally, Judah freed Jerusalem and reclaimed the Temple, entering in after their triumph with no food or light and very little to sustain them at all. Once inside, they found but one small container of oil, which was enough to burn for only one day. Upon lighting the temple menorah with it, a miracle occurred and the menorah burned for eight days. Hanukkah is therefore celebrated to recall the Maccabees and the conquering of the Greeks, but most of all to celebrate the miracle of the burning oil. This is the second miracle.
The First Book of Maccabees seems to have been written within fifty years of the re-dedication of the Temple. Hanukkah is therefore the only holiday for which there are few historical records, as it is not mentioned in the Bible, though it is part of the apocryphal literature. The story of Hanukkah happened after the Bible was redacted. In fact, the book of the Maccabees, while it emphasizes the war, makes no mention of the oil.
Hanukkah occurs over eight days not because of the miracle of the menorah remaining alight for that length of time but because it follows the timing of the holiday of Sukkot, which the Maccabees could not observe while they were in the mountains of Judea.
There is also very little in the Mishnah about Hanukkah. The miracle of the burning oil occurs only in later rabbinical literature. Because of the rabbis' discomfort with the emphasis on military victory, the miracle of the oil was given predominance.
In spite of this uncertain history, Hanukkah has become increasingly popular and the rabbis long ago made candlelighting rituals. These rituals emphasize the miracle of the oil, while relating the tale of the Maccabees.
Hanukkah has been influenced in America and Britain by Christmas. Hanukkah money, or gelt, given to children, is an old tradition, but the fact that Christmas is so close has made the exchange of gifts an important part of the holiday, in most Anglo-American Jewish families, rendering Hanukkah more important than the biblical holidays of Sukkot and Shavuot, which is a pity, since they are such important and rich holidays.
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Traditions and Customs
LIGHTING HANUKKAH CANDLES
The most important ritual of Hanukkah is ceating light. Hanukkah continues for eight nights, and each night an additional candle is lit. This is the tradition celebrating and commemorating the eight nights that the burning oil continued. Most people use wax candles, though oil and wick may also be employed, as it is considered more appropriate for the accurate celebration of the original story where oil was used. It is customary to place the menorah in a window so that passersby can see the lights. The candles are placed in the menorah, starting at the right. Each subsequent night one candle is added, starting at the right and moving left.
There is a special place on the hanukiah for the shamash candle (helper), which is always lit first. Before lighting the candles, we say the following blessings:
Blessed are you, Force of the Universe, who has sanctified our lives through commandments, commanding us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
Blessed are you, Force of the Universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors, in those days, in this season.On the first night we recite She-he-heyanu
Blessed are you, Force of the Universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for helping us reach this moment.The shamash is then used to light the candle. Every subsequent night, we begin by lighting the candle that has been added last. Once the lighting is completed, most people sing Ma'oz tzur, a beautiful song illustrating the protective power of a spiritual life.
After singing Ma'oz tzur, and other Hanukkah songs, gifts are given. And we play games, such as dreidel (sevivan in Hebrew).
To play this game, each player is given a stake – pennies, nuts, etc. A piece is put in the centre to begin. The top or dreidel has four sides, each with a letter – nun, gimmel, hay, or shin – representing nes, gadol, hay, and sham. Players then take turns spinning the dreidel and following the instructions – the letter nun means neither win nor lose; gimmel means the player can take the whole pot; hay means half the pot; shin means the player must put one coin in the pot.
Another custom at this time is to eat foods that have been fried in oil, such as potato latkes (Ashkenazim tradition) or sufganiyof – a type of doughnut I go crazy about (Sefardim tradition) – to remind us once again of the miracle of the oil.
Other Customs and Laws
Hanukkah starts with one light and finishes with many. This is one of the great teachings of this holiday period. Transformation begins with the first step, one step at a time.
The only way to dispel darkness is not to curse the darkness, but to create light. Also, fire is dynamic. It must increase or shrink, and the very act of touching it spreads it further. The tiniest flame can ignite a bonfire. This is the teaching of Hanukkah – the teaching of the Maccabees. Let the heart become bonfire.
So by the last day of the holiday, the candles or oil are burning most brightly – Zot Hanukkah – the essence of Hanukkah. The number seven is the perfect number in many mystical traditions, so that the number eight is beyond the complete, bringing something eternal. One step at a time to eternity.
KAVVANOT
Hanukkah is traditionally celebrated with a numer of traditional prayers and songs that are anjoyed following the candlelighting. There are also other possibilities such as Psalm 70 and Psalm 44:2-9. We can also develop our own selection of pieces, such as the following from Michael Strassfeld's book, The Jewish Holidays. These can be read all in one night or divided among the eight nights.
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